Any thoughts on La Marina Urbanisation near Santa Pola Costa Blanca?

Can anyone give an upto date opinion on the La Marina Urbanisation? I have been to the area and am considering buying there but have seen one or two really bad comments about it on various sites. Does anyone actually live on the urbanisation who can give me an honest opinion? Am looking to buy a holiday home but with a possibility of moving out there in the next year or so. Is there much crime? do you feel safe? Any comments would be great, coming in October to have a look again but it always helps to hear others comments. Thanks

When you come over in October, if you have a car, drive around and look at the area. We have friends in La Marina who love it there, but to me it is just a very large housing estate. Our place is in Almoradi, which is near to La Marina, and about 10-15 mins from Guardamar on the coast. Almoradi is a typically Spanish town, always plenty going on, it has a beautiful square which has a huge market around it every Saturday.There are plenty properties for sale here and in the surrounding areas so you can take your pick!

We have been on holiday to La Marina a few times. Although we enjoyed ourselves we found we had to use the car all the time. Parts of the resort are very hilly and some of the villas we stayed in were at the top of a steep hill, more suitable for a Goat. However, it does look a nice resort. We did find out of season it was too quiet. Being the only family in a restaurant was a bit too miserable.

We actually bought at the end of last year in Playa Flamenca. The resorts is very flat, you can walk to the beach and shops. There seems to a lot of English and Irish around although the development we bought on seems to have a good mix. The prices seemed much better for similar properties, ours is even in a gated community which seems very well run with modest charges. There is a whole host of restaurants nearby and always seems reasonably lively. Yes we are hooked and love the place. Even being so close to everything our development is very very quiet. Having had it for almost a year we would buy it again even with hindsight!

We have stayed on La Marina for several holidays and feel it is a really nice place. Even in the height of the season the residential areas seam to be very peaceful. Allthough it is veryt hilly in places this does give the advantage that many properties have excellent mountain and even sea views. There are also several commercial centres.

When we were over in August we were quite surpreised at the number of Gerrmans and Spanish people there - there was a lower percentage of British people than I thought there would be. I do agree that you do need a car - but then you probably do most places.

We felt that the area around La Marina is prettier than further south - it is nearer Aluicante and the North of Costa Blanca and also close to beaches which are not as busy as those further south.

We also feel the properties in La Marina are nicer that places like Almoradi and Guadamar - there are a lot of nice detached and quads whewre you dont have people above or beneath you.

To a certain extent it really depends what you like and want - we didn't feel that La Marina was all " Bingo,Karaoke and fish and chips" - but I am sure if that is what you want that is there. We found a lovely Spanish restaurant doing 3 course meals for 7 euros with views across to the mountains. Occasionally they had a Spanish guitarist playing and singing in the evenings.

La Marina is like Torrevieja, Quesada, Villamartin and all the areas south of Torry. If you want Britain in Spain, go for it, you will not have to learn spanish and you can have all the things you have in the UK. I suppose it is good to get away from the rain and the MP's expense row but not real Spain.

Now, if you really want to come to Spain, head just a few kilometres inland, Almoradi, Albatera, Crevillente, Elche to name a few are very good real spanish places to live, yes, there may be crime as there is all over the world, but not like on the coast where the eastern europeans / morrocans will take the sugar out of your tea.

Just inland, you get lots more for your money when buying property, the best views, better deals in bars and and for meals, even Carrefour and Mercadona are cheaper.

Please avoid Catral and Dolores though, they have not sorted the dodgy houses there yet.

Mr Kevin...love your picture of the dog...is it yours or just a picture you like?

Vilprano...how have you managed to find a cortijo? We have been looking for something to rent inland from the Costa Blanca coast for our winters...love Almoradi (thanks for the tip re Dolores, Mr Kevin). We would love a small place (detached or semi) with Spanish neighbours, something with some outside space ie a garden rather than a terrace......and we can't find anything like this advertised. It's beginning to look like we'll have to rent an apartment, which will be OK but not what we really want. Is there anyone out there that has what we're looking for? Or is it only apartments that are left empty over the winter months when their owners are back in the UK?

It is our intention to spend the 6 months from 1st October to 31st March each year in Spain...and this would have been the case this year. However, this year we won't be there until we have sorted out Probate re the death of my husband's mother...but we are hoping to be in Spain by the end of October/beginning of November. If we can find a place we really like, we would like to spend every winter there!

Thanks for any help you can provide!

_______________________

Meggie

Thanks for all your info on La Marina, looking forward to viewing the Urb. and will definitely be checking out the surrounding area as well. Still keeping an eye on this board so please add more comments if you have any. Thanks!

i live in la marina but im moving back to the uk in february for personal reasons but i wont be selling my house ,i will come back here as often as possible....i would advise anyone to move to la marina,their are very few problems here and i always fill safe if i go out at night

_______________________if you dont know where your going any road will get you their

As Georgia says, La Marina urb is not really my cup of tea either - that said, a great market on a Thursday and we really love the beach there. We usually go down for a barbie on Christmas Day - unbeatable!

Derby duck - from your username, are you not too far away from me in the UK?

Meggie - if you are interested, drop me a pm and I will pass on the details of someone who may be able to help you with what you are looking for.

As everyone says it is a nice location if you want to be near the sea and all facilities and if you live here or have a holiday home then everyone seems happy

Which as far as Spain is concerned is nice to hear in 2009......so often all we hear is negative

My 50/50 location is Huercal Overa from Jan 2010 and the internet makes this possible for me and a great way to start 2010 [ at my age!!]

Anyone thinking about 2010 being the time to buy something in Spain then get in touch- we have CAM Bank reposs sales in this area from 55K € for 1 bed 60K € 2 bed ...OK ,may not be prime location at this price but perhaps worth a look!

Also they will give 80% LTV mortgages to non residents and at Spanish mortgage rates that is very good !

Cam Bank have properties to sell on all Costas [ as you would expect] including the Islands-how about a 1 bed in Palma for 39K€! and for every budget

2010 looks like a more positive year for those of us who like the 'life style'!!!!!!!!!!!!